Friendship Inspired Gift to Liberal Arts

Carol ’77 and Ross Frazer ’77 have been friends with College of Liberal Arts supporter Ray Rothrock ‘77 since their time as engineering students at Texas A&M. Rothrock was the best man in the Frazers’ wedding, and despite living half a country away from each other, they see each other often and have only grown closer.

So when Rothrock was recognized with a 2016 Distinguished Alumnus Award from the university and the Association of Former Students, the Frazers knew they wanted to do something to honor this special accomplishment.

Knowing Rothrock’s passion for Liberal Arts, music in particular, Carol came up with the idea to give a gift to the college in their friend’s name. The Frazers created the Ray A. Rothrock ‘77 Music Scholarship, awarded annually based on merit to two students on the music track in the Department of Performance Studies.

Liberal Arts strives to create transformational educational experiences, both in and out of the classroom. Performance Studies’ curriculum reinforces this goal by giving students the opportunity to create and experience art while using it as a lens for analysis of our culture and history. This practical approach provides students with a foundation for success in any profession.

“Ray is one of the reasons Texas A&M has a music program, so this is a good way to honor his well-deserved recognition as a distinguished alumnus,” Ross Frazer said.

The Distinguished Alumnus Award recognizes former Texas A&M students who have achieved excellence in their profession and made meaningful contributions to the university and the community. Rothrock is a successful venture capitalist, and his contributions to the arts at Texas A&M have been significant: helping to establish the Texas A&M Symphonic Band, funding faculty endowments that were integral in the creation of the Department of Performance Studies, and providing programmatic support through the Meredith and Ray Rothrock Endowment for Excellence of Liberal Arts gift.

Rothrock said he cherishes his longtime friendship with Ross and Carol and that he is grateful for their contribution to the college.

“When they told me about the scholarship, it brought tears to my eyes,” he said. “I believe you should get a balanced education, and Ross and Carol are supporting that, and I wish more people would.”

With more than 7,500 undergraduates pursuing a Liberal Arts degree, scholarship support now is more valuable than ever. Your partnership affords our students the opportunity to participate in collaborative learning experiences, which help us recruit and retain top-performing students.